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State Rep. Richter makes his mark at Fun Time

By RYAN MILLS (Contact)

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

At about 10 this morning, wearing slacks and a blue blazer, newly-elected state Rep. Garrett Richter knelt on a cement slab and covered his right hand in red finger paint.

He then proceeded to make handprints on a piece of white paper with the students at Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, 1010 Fifth Ave. N. in Naples.

State Representative Garrett Richter finger paints with kids at Fun Time Nursery just before presenting a check for 5,000 dollars to the facility.

After the painting was complete, Richter wiped the paint off his hand and pulled out an envelope. Inside was a $5,000 check, which he donated to the 45-year-old Naples-based academy.

The money came from Richter’s surplus campaign fund, he said.

Richter told a small crowd of Fun Time faculty and members of the media that he made the donation because of the values the cash-strapped nursery installs in the 51 students it serves. Richter was elected in November to the House District 76 seat, representing coastal Collier County.

“Fun Time nursery serves a very meaningful purpose in our community,” Richter said. “It provides early childhood care to children in the River Park community whose parents have to work to provide a living for their families.”

After the check presentation, a group of 13 4-year-olds serenaded Richter with the songs “Thank You, Thank You,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Richter said the money comes with no strings attached and can be used for any purpose the Fun Time board of directors sees fit. Peter Manion, co-chairman of the Fun Time board, said the money would be used for general operations of the academy.

Peter and Susan Manion were named co-chairs of the Fun Time board in October and were faced with the task of tackling the academy’s financial challenges, many of which were related to Hurricane Wilma and maintaining the old trailer that houses the academy. At one point River Park residents had to “pass the hat” around the neighborhood to raise $2,500 to keep the academy on its feet.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Peter Manion said this morning. “Our financial position is much better than it was three months ago.”

The $5,000 donation from Richter will not be used to help build the $1.5 million modular building, which the board announced in November it was planning to build in 2007. Manion said they are trying to get grants to pay for the new facility.

Fun Time operates out of a dilapidated, 35-year-old double-wide trailer. The last time Richter visited the academy was about 10 years ago, he said.

“It has not changed as much as it needs to. That is why there is a great need for the new facility,” Richter said. “Also, what hasn’t changed is the energy of the kids here and the energy of the staff.”

Richter said he is planning to establish a relationship with a local charitable foundation to further support charitable causes.

Fun Time Executive Director Franny Kain said she was excited to have Richter visit.

“It really was wonderful to have Garrett come in here to show him on a firsthand basis what is going on here for the children,” she said.

It’s been a busy week for Kain. She started at Fun Time on Monday morning, and in addition to Richter’s visit, she is also expecting a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus at 2 p.m. on Thursday.